Dean denied attempted murder but admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Ms Jenkins with intent and attempted child destruction. Her plea was accepted by the prosecution.

The court adjourned sentencing until the completion of the case against her husband Christopher Dean, 39, had been heard. He had entered a guilty plea to charges of assisting an offender and carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice after disposing of the knife used to attack Ms Jenkins.

The Liverpool Echo reports that Christopher Dean will have five other charges put to him next week, including attempted murder, wounding with intent, aiding and abetting an assault, attempted child destruction and aiding and abetting attempted child destruction.

The attacked woman was taken to hospital after the stabbing. She recovered and her unborn baby was unharmed.